Independant Research. The Project was shortlisted (7 out of 200) for the 2022 gta doctoral scholarship in History and Theory of Architecture at ETH Zürich.
This doctoral thesis, supervised by Andreas Lechner at TU Graz, is dedicated to a typological study of Argentine Clubes Sociales y Deportivos (Social and Sports Clubs) in the capital city of Buenos Aires. These multidimensional institutions see themselves as independent, non-profit organizations offering a wide range of leisure, educational, and sports activities. Since their inception in the 19th century, the clubs have become an inseparable part of Argentina’s social fabric. From this, a club culture has developed, unique in its form and function, with no equivalent found worldwide. In the midst of Buenos Aires, the Clubes Sociales y Deportivos are not only places of exchange but also of social cohesion, deeply rooted in the country’s migration history and the specific dynamics of their local contexts. Their architecture thus becomes a reflection of the nation and its identity, both in Argentina’s past and present.
In comparison to other model projects such as the Russian Melnikov Workers' Club or the Brazilian SESC Centers, the urban dimension of the Argentine Clubes Sociales y Deportivos stands out. With around 200 of these institutions in the capital and a total of 20,000 nationwide, they offer a unique opportunity for a typological analysis that distinguishes between the general and the specific, reflecting both the original and the repeated. It is not only their quantitative dimension that sets the Argentine Clubes Sociales y Deportivos apart from other international concepts of social architecture. In their mass, they are primarily anonymous everyday architectures that stand out for their openness to continuous, need-based growth or shrinkage, displaying remarkable flexibility. This characteristic provides the opportunity to study the typology from a diachronic perspective—as an ongoing, evolving process. Unlike internationally recognized examples, such as the Russian or Brazilian models, which, due to their finalized, once-completed design processes, only describe the synchronic dimension of a typology, the Clubes Sociales y Deportivos allow for a view that emphasizes their evolutionary character. This lays the groundwork for the relevance of a typological consideration of the clubs in today’s architectural discourse. The continuous development of the city, told through the drawings of the club buildings, underscores the need for resilient typologies that promote a diachronic character in architecture. In already developed cities, new, innovative architectural approaches are needed, relying on this diachronic character to enable the transformative reshaping of the existing. In a time when spatial challenges are increasingly addressed through technical or social science approaches, typology offers a strong argument for the importance of architecture—especially the need for spatial quality in the lifecycle of our built environment. The underlying concern of this dissertation is, therefore, to highlight architectural relevance. Typology, as a methodological tool, not only facilitates the analysis of reconstructions but also serves as a cipher to decipher the social and political forces shaping architecture. From this perspective, the task is to emphasize an architecture through engagement with the Clubes Sociales y Deportivos that, through its collective practice—constantly being revised, overcome, and reinterpreted by various actors—designs a model of architecture that exists beyond capitalist logic. The study of these clubs is used to decode the emancipatory potential of architecture in its various facets.
Research conducted at University of Stuttgart, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Institute of Urban Planning and Design under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Martina Baum in collaboration with the city of Stuttgart and the International Building Exhibition (IBA) Stuttgart 2027.
A productive and inclusive city uses its diversity and mix to develop a breeding ground on which new things can emerge. As part of the project Täglich in Bad Cannstatt (Daily in Bad Cannstatt), we ask ourselves about the spatial basis for interaction and exchange between different groups in the city and collect interesting concepts for community, social, cultural and educational centers worldwide. We reflect on the role of public space in the European city and urban society and discuss the role of such a public space and the potential for Bad Cannstatt.
The project provides the opportunity for an intensive examination of the topic of public space: its role, its tasks and its contribution, but also its spatial and architectural characteristics. This discourse must be conducted on a social and spatial level. What is public space today? How is it used? How is it perceived? Where are meeting places in the city that are low-threshold, inclusive and accessible to all and create opportunities?
The inspiration and starting point for the project are the Brazilian SESC centers. A place open to all that offers a wide range of spaces and uses. Free sports and educational opportunities are offered here as well as health services, a library, a cultural program, childcare and, last but not least, affordable restaurants or simply a place to sunbathe.
The IBA offers a unique opportunity to realize and test this approach in Bad Cannstatt. In our view, it is not necessary to attach an IBA label to day-to-day business, but to address issues that are relevant far beyond Stuttgart‘s borders.